Conductor



WITNESS:

March 5 ,1929. v V s. s. HARTLEY flgf fi a CONDUCTOR Filed June 16, 1928 daizfar'dnslfiariie I av ,f";

ATTORNEY Lane SANFORD S. HARTLEY, OF IYEOUHDSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

connoo'ron.

Application. filed June 16,

My present invention is primarily directed to a conductor for the return cable on a coal mining machine but, of course, is susceptible for use in other connections Where a railway rail is employed as a return conductor for electrically driven apparatus. 1

My object is the provision of a devlce for this purpose which will have a wedging engagement with the rail and is at all times spring influenced to such engagement, whereby a perfect contact between the return cable and the rail will be obtained.

Other objects and advantages will present, themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a stop plan view of my improvement in applied position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view upon an enlarged scale approximately on the line 1t of Fig- .ure 1.

In the drawings, the character R designates one of the rails of atrack upon which the wheels of a mining machine travel. The electrically operated machine is usually trolley driven and the conductor for the return cable of the motor is connected with one of the rails R. Usually these conductors are simply in the nature of a crooked wire which are wedged under the rail and also usually these conductors become disconnected from the rail and, therefore, do not properly function.

My improvement contemplates the employment of a substantially rectangular framelike member 1 that has one of its outer ends formed with a head 2. The head, on its inner face, is formed with a jaw 3 that is shaped to be received in the fishing space of the rail R, and to contact with the web and the base flange of the said rail R. The parallel sides of the substantially rectangular frame-like body 1 are formed on their inner edges with inwardly directed longitudinally extending preferably centrally arranged ribs 4, and the end of the frame which is opposite that pro-. vided with the head 2 is preferably in the nature of a removable element 5 through which pass .bolts that also pass through the ribs 1. Through this end 5 there is guided a metal rod 6. The rod is extended longitudinally be- 1928. Serial No. 285,963.

tween the side members of the frame and merges into a head 7 formed with anvupper jaw extension 8 designed to be received in the fishing space on the second side of the rail R and to contact with the web and the base flange thereof. The head 7 has its sides grooved, as at 9, for the reception of the ribs 4 therein. Around the rod, and exerting a p pressure between the end 5 ofthe frame 1 and the head 7 on the said rod there is a helical spring 10, which, of course, urges the head in the direction of the rail and forces the jaw 8 thereof into contact with the said rail.

On its outer end the metal rod 6 is formed with an enlargement '11 provided with a socket 12 for the return conduct-or 13,-the said conductor being'received in a suitable casing 14, and being held in the socket by a binding element 15. The enlargement 11 on the end of the rod isformed with a transverse opening through whichpasses a handle member 16 whereby the rod may be influenced to bring the head and jaw thereof out of engagement The simplicity of my construction and the advantages thereof will, it is thought, be understood and appreciated after the foregoing description hasbeen carefully read in connection with the accompanying drawings. Obviously I do not wish to be restricted to the precise details herein set forth and, there; fore, hold myself entitled to make such changes therefrom as fairly fall within the scope of what I claim.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In a device for the purpose set forth,.in combination with one of the rails of a track, a substantially rectangular frame designed to be arranged below the rail and having a headed end which merges into a jaw to be received in a fishing space on one side of the rail, a spring influenced metal rod arranged longitudinally in the frame,having a headed end merging into a jaw to bereceived in-the fishing space at the second side of the rail, said rod having a socket on the outer end thereof and a. conductor received and removably held in said socket.

2. In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination with one of the rails of a railway track, a substantially rectangular frame disposed beneath the rail having a headed endthat merges into a jaw to bereceived in one'of the fishing spaces of the rail, the side members of the frame having inwardly directed longitudinally extending ribs, a metal rod member guided through the outer end of the frame and merging into ahead provided with an inwardly directed aw to be-received 5 in the fishing space at, the second side of the rail, said head having grooves to receive the ribs therein, a helical spring exerting a pressure between the outer end of the rail and the head of the rod, said rod having its outer end socket and a laterally extending handle on V the said enlarged end of the rod.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature. I

SANFORD .S. HARTLEY. 

